Franklin Art students take small step that counts big time for Haiti

"Tiny houses that make a big difference." That is the motto of Haiti Houses, a school-run project that is raising money for Haiti.

Emily Callahan Hughes/Daily News correspondent

"Tiny houses that make a big difference."

That is the motto of Haiti Houses, a school-run project that is raising money for Haiti.

What started in a small town has become a nationwide project, including at Franklin High School.

Two Florida school art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, started the project in 2008 after seeing a presentation on living conditions in Haiti. The duo came up with a way students could help make a difference by making and selling art.

After the earthquake this year, the project quickly spread, with hundreds of teachers, students, Scout groups, churches and individuals taking it on as well.

At Franklin High School, the art club has created magnets in the shape of tiny houses to help raise money for the cause. The magnets are being sold for $5 each at the school.

Emily Ortmann, the art club adviser, is running the project at the high school.

"I got the idea for the project from The Incredible Art Department website," she said. The site is part of Princeton University, and can be found at www.princetonol.com/groups/iad.

"I brought it into art club with hopes that the students would be excited to create something that would help the people of Haiti," she said.

She said the students "were very much on board with the project and in total they created about 35 houses."

"So far, we've sold 27 for a total of $135 and are continuing to sell them until there are none left," she said.

The students created the houses using matboard and decorated them using acrylic paint, Sharpie markers, oil pastels and colored pencils, Ortmann said. After the houses were decorated and glued together, Ortmann used a gloss sealer to protect the houses and give them an attractive sheen.

"When first approached about it, I thought that the Haiti Houses project was very interesting because it was a different and creative approach to raise money for the Haiti Relief Fund," said art club member Erin Burns, a Franklin High School junior.

She said when the group began making the magnets, "It was lots of fun to make each of them and felt good to know that, through using our talents as artists, we were able to make a difference for someone out there who was in need."

"I found it very worthwhile and was thankful to all of the families and community members who helped support our project by buying Haiti Houses," she said.